Apparatus



Dec. 25, 1928.

C. A. HELM FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS Filed March 10. 1926 2Shasta-Sheet 1 4 c. A HELM FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS Filed March 1b,was 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .guishing liquid;

Patented Dec. 25, 1928.

. nstr-s stares MW e ase CHARLES A. HELM, oFoLEvELANn, OHIO.

rmn-nxrinenisn nve QAPPABATUS.

Application ,filed March 10, 1926. Serial No. 93,660.

extinguishing liquid so as to generate a large volume offireextinguishing gas. rapidly and continuously during the progress of a.fire and independently of-the heat produced bythe burning material. I 7Another object of my invention isto provide means of the vcharacterindicated especially designed to be used in conjunction with a machineor the like, which in its normal functioning produces a degree of heatsufiicient to constitute a fire hazard, and having means for utilizingthe heat generated by the machine for volatizing the fire extin- Withthese object in view and with the intention of providing for thesecuring of other advantages .which will be described later my inventioncomprises the new and improved fire extinguishing meanshereinafterdescribed in the specification, particularly pointed out inthe claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a volatilizing element, positivemeans for heating said element, means for supplying a volatile fireextinguishing fluid to the element, and means for discharging the gasgenerated by the volatilizing element.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein several ways ofapplying andcarrying out my invention are illustrated, Fig. 1 is a side elevation ofa moving picture machine with my invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 is adetail view in perspective on an enlarged scale of a portion of thepicture machine showing the general arrangement of my device; Fig. 3 isa view in? elevation of the volatilizing element; Fig. i is a section online H, Fig.3; Fig. 5"shows a modified form of thevolatilizing element;Fig. 6 is a section on line 66, Fig. 5.

Again referring to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4,in which like numerals indicate the same parts, 10 represents the baseof a moving picture machine, 11 the head of the machine, which carriesthe usual feeding mechanism (not shown) for the film and through whichthe film passes when being exposed. The film boxes for the rolls of filmare indicated at 12,

and at 13 is indicated the lantern box which carries the customaryprojecting lamp,

lenses and adjusting mechanism (not shown). The electric circuit isindicated at 14 and the controllii'ig device therefor at 15 and 16. Thefilm window is shown at 17,-

the shutter at 18 and the heat see Fig. 5.

lVhen applying my fire extinguishing apparatus to a moving picturemachine, it is preferable to remove the device known as the heat shield19 which is mounted on the head of the machine between the lens and thefilm window, where the 'film is exposed to the light from the projectinglamp. As is well known, the object of the heat shield is to protect theparts of the head adjacent to the film window from the heat developedshield at 19,

by the excess light rays from the projecting lamp. During the operationof the machine, the heat shield becomes highly heated due to theimpinging of the excess light rays thereon. 1 v r After removing theheat shield 19 from theheadll, I substitute therefor my volatilizingelement, which in the drawings is indicatedby 20. When applying myvolatilizing element to a moving picture machine, I prefer that it shallconform in its dimensions and configuration to those of the ordi naryheat shield so that it may be readily substituted therefor.

The volatilizing element 20, therefore, in this instance comprises athin rectangular shaped casting which is providedwith a central aperture21 for permitting the light rays to pass therethrough so as to impingeon the film. The easing or volatilizing element 20 is provided with achamber 22. This chamber 22 is provided with an inlet opening 23 and oneor more outlet openings 7 On any suitable portion of the frame ismounted a closed container 26 for holding any suitable fireextinguishing liquid, preferably carbon-tetrachloride. The fireextinguishing liquid may be kept under a definite pressure either by theuse of compressed air or other suitable means and the object of havingthe liquid under pressure is that it may flow freely from the containerwhen desired. A suitable pipe or conduit 27 extends from the container26 to the inlet opening 23 of the chamber 22 in the volatilizing element20. The conduit 27 may comprise a heat insulating section 28 to preventthe heat from the element 20 being conducted to the container 26.

The conduit 27 is provided with a suitable valve 29 which may beoperated by means of a rod 30 so arranged that 'it may be readilygrasped by the moving picture machine operator. A conduit 33 isconnected with the outlet opening 24: and as shown extends directthrough the wall of the head portion v11 :of the picture machine, butthis conduit maybe branched and carried to as'many portions of themachine as desired.

The operation of my fire extinguishing ap paratuswhen applied to amoving picture machine as follows.

1 A quantity of carbon tetrachloride is put in the container 26 and adefinite pressure established on top of the liquic. After the machinehas been in operation for a short time the walls of the chamber 22 ofthe volatilizing element 20 become highly .heated. If the "film takesfire, which is generally caused by some interruption in the feed of thefilm permitting a portion of the film to be unduly subjected to theaction of the focussed rays of light, then the operator opens the valve29 in the conduit 27 by manipulating the rod 30. The carbontetrachloride liquid is forced down through the conduit 27 and entersthe heated chamber 22. The liquid is immediately vaporized and escapesthrough the outlet 24 and the conduit 33 and enters the head 11. As thevaporizing surface of the chamber 22 is relatively large compared to thesize of the outlet opening 24, considerable pressure is built up in thechamber 22 and the gas escapes from the conduit with great force. Thegas entering the lead 11 drives the air away from the burning film andthe carbon tetrachloride atmosphere established within the head 11smothers out the fire. As the boxes 12 which hold the film rolls are inopen communication with the head 11, the carbon tetrachloride gas willenter the film boxes and smother out any fire which may havecommunicated to the film rolls.

In Figs. '5 and 6 is shown a slightly modified form of the apparatusjust described; the modification consisting in using a section of tubing20 for the vaporizing element. This tubing 20 is carried across the faceof the regular heat shield in the path of the excess light rays. Theheat shield is indicated at A and the light aperture at B.

I do not desire to limit the scope ofmy inven-tion to the embodimentsherein described and shown in the drawings, as the invention may becarried out in many forms and applied in various ways.

hat I claim is 1. In an apparatus of the character described, incombination with a moving picture machine, a volatilizing elementarranged in the path of a portion of the light rays from the projectinglamp so as to receive heat from said rays, means for supplying avolatile fire extinguishing medium to said element and means fordirecting the volatilized fire extinguishing mediumin the path of thefilm carried by said moving picture machine.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination withamoving pic ture machine, a container arranged in the path of a. portionof the light raysfrom the projecting lamp so as to receive heat fromsaid rays, means for supplying avolatile fire extinguishing fluid tosaid container and means for directing the resultant gas from saidcontainer into the path of the film carried by said movingpicturemac'h'ine.

In an apparatus of the character described, in combination with a movingpicture machine, a volati'lizing element arranged in the path of aportionof the light rays from the projecting lamp so as to receive heatfrom said rays, said 'volaitilizing element having an inlet and anoutlet, means for feeding a volatile fire extinguishing fluid to theinlet of said container under pressure and means for conducting thegenerated gas from said container to various parts of the moving picturemachine, to extinguish fire in and around said machine. v

4. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination with amoving picture machine, a volati lizing element arranged in the path ofa portion of the light rays-from the projection lamp so as to receiveheat from said rays, means for feeding a volatile fire extinguishingfluid under pressure to said volatilizing element and means fordirecting the vaporized fluid in the path the film and into the filmcompartments.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

7 CHARLES A. 'HELM."

